Space Tripper

If I was inclined towards cheap philosophical outbursts I would say that PomPom's Space Tripper is a metaphor for the tumultuous ascent of mankind. Dropped onto a strange planet we are essentially alone in the world, with nothing to rely on apart from our wits. We cruise through life growing stronger, wiser and above all avoiding sharp objects. Then, just when we think we're safe, a giant robotic spider drops out of the sky and gives us a quick laser enema. It's the same old story.

Fortunately, I'm not going to say that (I thought you just did -Ed), because Space Tripper is in fact a damn fine top-down arcade-style retro shoot 'em up. And we like it a lot. Via an overhead view, you fly your little spaceship through 14 levels, which are spread over four worlds, zapping anything that moves and several things that don't. You must pick up various power ups for your ship's lasers: blue for the not-too-bladdered, show-off shooters and red for the more couldn't-hit-a-teapot-with-an-elephant types. It's vital to remember to power up your weapons as you'll need both types to progress through the game. The red laser is particularly useful for picking off hordes of minor enemies, while your blue laser is better for getting into those hard to reach places.

Despite its simplicity, Space Tripper is a tough little mother of a game. Think of a cross between R-Type and Defender, with some superb visuals and an eye for pixel perfection. You can actually find the demo for the game on our May CD and you can unlock the full game by logging onto the PomPom website and paying for code. It's nothing new, but if you're into retro games you shouldn't miss it - a solid game at a reasonable price... what's the world coming to?